From Robert L. Millet and his book “Talking with God”: (continued)
There is a whole host of ways in which our Heavenly Father and our Savior may choose to communicate with us and sustain us. One way is through our minds, through our thoughts. The Prophet Joseph Smith explained the spirit of revelation may take the form of “sudden strokes of ideas” flowing into us. Enos, the son of Jacob, wrote that the voice of the Lord came into his mind, affirming that his sins had been forgiven (Enos 1:5). On many occasions I have pleaded with the Lord for direction in the preparation of a lesson or a sermon. Often I have been for a time, unsure, unclear about the course I should pursue, only to sense at a certain point in my preparation, that the ideas in the form of passages, prophetic or apostolic statements, and even overall organization have begun to flow into my mind. Similarly it has been my experience scores of times to be speaking or teaching in a certain avenue, only to have a related idea, experience, or unusual insight make its way onto the stage of my mind. I have never been disappointed when I have positively and actively reacted to such promptings, and I have come away from such experiences knowing more surely that God is God and that he knows his children and their individual needs far better than I, and that it is in my best interest as a servant to follow where he leads.
In many cases answers to our prayers come through promptings as we read and ponder on holy scripture. We may well read of Peter’s and Paul’s doings or sayings and find immediate application to our lives. We may study where Nephi sought the revelations of heaven, inasmuch as he knew God was no respecter of persons and would grant him as He had to Lehi (1 Nephi 10: 17-19), and we feel motivated and prompted to do the same. Or we may be reading along a section of scripture only to find our minds caught away to serious contemplation on another matter and soon come to realize that this mental detour was planned and orchestrated by the Lord.
“Our glorious blessing!” Elder Robert D. Hales exulted. “For when we want to speak to God, we pray. And when we want Him to speak to us we search the scriptures; for His words are spoken through His prophets. He will then teach us as we listen to the promptings of the Holy Spirit.”
President Boyd K. Packer pointed out: “These deliberate, refined spiritual communications are not seen with eyes or heard with our ears. And even though it is described as a voice, it is a voice that one feels more than one hears.” Revelation, divine communication from God through the Spirit, thus comes to both mind and heart (Doctrine & Covenants 8:2-3). In a letter addressed to Saints in Nauvoo, Joseph Smith wrote: “I now resume the subject of baptism for the dead, as the subject seems to occupy my mind and press itself upon my feelings the strongest” (Doctrine and Covenants 128:1; emphasis added).
A feeling often associated with divine guidance, and yet often overlooked, is the simple feeling of peace. The Savior reminded Oliver Cowdery of the powerful revelation he had previously received while residing in the Smith home in Palmyra, when he had called upon God to know the truthfulness of the claims of the Smith family respecting young Joseph: “If you desire further witness, cast your mind upon the night that you cried unto me in your heart, that you might know the truthfulness of the Smith family regarding young Joseph; “If you desire further witness, cast your mind upon the night that you cried unto me in your heart, that you might know the truth of these things. Did I not speak peace to your mind concerning the matter? What greater witness can you have than from God” (Doctrine & Covenants 6:22-23). ~~~Robert L. Millet, “Talking with God”, Deseret Book, Salt Lake City, p.39-41
